1812 Overture
This evening I saw the Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture at the Domain as part of the Sydney Festival, complete with cannons and fireworks at the finale. It was one of the most incredible performances I’ve ever seen. I think what added to it is that my friend (who is currently reading War and Peace) and I were sitting with a mother and her young kids, and these kids hadn’t heard any of this music before. At each shift in the overture they would turn to us with huge smiles as if seeking approval for enjoying it so much. Especially great was when the boy heard the faint ting of the triangle, which he had been told signalled the coming Russian victory; there’s not much like seeing a child experiencing the 1812 Overture for the first time and pumping his fists in the air.
